The Coed Fraternity and Sorority Council is currently revising their alcohol education program for new members of the system, meaning next year's pledge classes will receive a Dartmouth- specific program designed by the CFSC.
Margaret Smith, coordinator of Alcohol and Other Drug Education programs and a consultant for the committee, said the study of new member education programs was initiated by the CFSC to address specific Dartmouth issues.
The committee will also discuss ongoing alcohol education efforts of the CFSC.
This year's pledge classes, like previous years' classes, will be trained by undergoing the Training Intervention Program, a nationally-designed program that emphasizes serving alcohol in bar-like settings, Kevan Higgins '00, CFSC treasurer said.
Smith said the TIPS program is a good one, but that the CFSC has recognized the need to focus on a wider range of issues when informing new members.
"We want a program that will be useful to everyone in the system," Smith said.
In designing the program, the committee will be meeting with Safety and Security officers, Hanover Inn employees and DHMC staff, as well as Smith and Susan Marine, the coordinator of the Sexual Abuse Awareness Program.
Higgins said the new alcohol education will focus on Dartmouth issues like ways to serve beer in fraternities safely and legally, as well as the campus resources available to students in the case of health problems and emergencies.
Smith said the program will incorporate information about other drugs and the role alcohol can play in sexual assault.
She said the goal was for "people to know how to have a really good time, and at the same time have resources and information on alcohol and other drugs."
Marine said new training would also include information on recognizing and intervening in situations that could lead to potential sexual abuse.
This year, Higgins said the CFSC is considering having Safety and Security Officer Bobby Young speak to both new and old members at every CFSC house.
In addition, Marine said this year's education about sexual assault will include more general programs on encouraging healthier relationships and sexual communication.
Higgins said the CFSC hopes Dean of the College James Larimore and members of the Board of Trustee's steering committee will come to speak with the group so they can discuss ways the CFSC has been improving over the past year, including the new education program planned for next year.
